Martina always has something to do with her day. We talked over video – I was outside, and she was in her room. We talked a lot about the room. It is common for people to be in their room, but not everyone makes it their home. Martina loves to organize her environment and finds peace in privacy. She told me that if the walls could talk, they would explain how much she values her living space and everything it allows her to manage. She told me she was a germophobe with a special protocol for entering the house and the room. She is always cautious and consistent with her standards.

Martina is annoyed by people who do not know how to communicate. Whether it's about positive or negative thoughts, lack of communication is something she cannot accept. It is crucial to her that people are open, as she is with them. If you spend even a little time with her, you will realize how much she does not like to chit-chat and ramble but rather focuses on the quality of the conversation. I got the same impression during our call – sometimes, I would talk too long about a simple question, and she was ready to give me an answer after the main thought.

The conversation about communication led us to question how she thinks her closest friends see her. Without any assumptions, quoting the words of a friend she was on vacation with, she told me, “Martina does not give up easily." This can be seen in many examples from her life, but the statement was inspired by a specific situation when they were doing makeup at the same time. You will immediately notice the big, bold, and flawless eyeliner if you ever see Martina. Efficiency, decisiveness, and practice are evident in the results.

Apart from makeup, Martina is also interested in fashion but doesn't like that Macedonia lacks thrift stores. She told me about her disdain for fast fashion and her attempts to reduce her individual consumption. She is constantly working on it and finding ways to make her lifestyle more sustainable.

When we talked about her favorite place in Macedonia, she mentioned Kratovo. Her grandfather is from there, so she has visited the city to learn to appreciate every aspect. She said she likes how it is quiet and peaceful. People find ways to entertain each other and live peacefully side-by-side.

Mostar reminds her of Kratovo - a small city with a lot of soul. It's a great coincidence. We made a good choice allocating Mostar to Martina – somewhere she’ll feel reminded of home and where she’ll get to live more independently. 

Jana Kraleva
July, 2023